Posted by Chris Lovescu on May 31, 2000 at 21:10:38:
Soccer-Hagi believes Romania could go all the way
(Adds detail) BUCHAREST, May 30 (Reuters)(DS) - Gheorghe Hagi said on Wednesday he was confident he would inspire Romania to their greatest ever performance at the European Championship. "Romania's squad has huge potential and this makes me and my team mates believe we could play right up to the end," an upbeat Hagi said after coach Emeric Ienei announced his 22-man squad for the championship starting next month. "I'm confident we will be able to win the first three matches in the group." Romania qualified for the European Championship in 1984 and 1996 but failed to win a match. Hagi, named as the Romanian player of the century last year, said Romania had the ability to confound expectations just like his club side Galatasaray of Turkey who won the UEFA Cup earlier this month. "Last year, nobody believed Galatasaray could win a European trophy," Hagi said. Hagi said Romania was unmatched in the first round of the tournament where they face Germany, Portugal and England. "Romania beat Portugal in the preliminaries campaign, England at the 1998 World Cup finals and drew with Germany in a friendly two years ago," Hagi said. "So, why should we be afraid to play against them?" Romania's coach Emeric Ienei left defenders Iulian Miu of Steaua Bucharest and Stefan Nanu of Vitesse Arnhem out of his final 22 as well as midfileders Marius Maldarasanu of Rapid Bucharest and Catalin Munteanu of Salamanca. But he retained veteran defender Miodrag Belodedici, 36, and Dinamo Bucharest midfielder Ionut Lupescu, aged 32. Romania lost a friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam 2-1 last weekend and will play their last warm-up match against Greece in Bucharest on June 3. Squad: Goalkeepers: Bogdan Stelea (Salamanca), Bogdan Lobont (Ajax Amsterdam), Florin Prunea (Universitatea Craiova; Defenders: Cosmin Contra (Alaves), Gheorghe Popescu (Galatasaray), Miodrag Belodedici (Steaua Bucharest), Liviu Ciobotariu (Standard Liege), Iulian Filipescu (Real Betis),Cristian Chivu (Ajax Amsterdam); Midfielders: Dan Petrescu (Chelsea), Florentin Petre (Dinamo Bucharest), Gheorghe Hagi (Galatasaray), Constantin Galca (Espanyol), Catalin Haldan (Dinamo Bucharest), Eric Linkar(Steaua Bucharest), Dorinel Munteanu (Wolfsbrug), Ionut Lupescu (Dinamo Bucharest), Laurentiu Rosu (Steaua Bucharest); Forwards: Ionel Ganea (Stuttgart), Adrian Mutu (Inter Milan), Viorel Moldovan (Fenerbahce Istanbul), Adrian Ilie (Valencia).